UNS — The Student Executive Board (BEM) of the Faculty of Agriculture (FP), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, held another Community Development Summit (Comdes) at Balai Desa Ngunut, Jumantono District, Karanganyar Regency, to empower the local village community. This activity was attended by 53 participants consisting of the Ngunut Prosperous Family Group (UPPKS), Ngunut Village PKK, and the Student Activities Unit (UKK) of the Study Program Student Association (HMP) at FP UNS. Also present were the Head of Ngunut Village, Sutarno, S.Pd., and the Vice Dean of Academic, Research and Student Affairs FP UNS, Dr. Ir. Eka Handayanta, M.P., IPU., ASEAN Eng.
The event under the theme “Ginger Candy Production Training as a Superior Commodity Development in order to Improve Village Economy” will cover many activities, including introductory material on family medicine plants (TOGA) and training in ginger candy production. The training is provided by apt. Dian Eka Ermawati, S.Fam., M.Sc., Lecturer of Diploma Program in Pharmacy, Vocational School UNS and Putri Indah Nurani, student of Diploma Program in Pharmacy, Vocational School UNS.
During the training, apt. Dian explained that ginger is one of the cooking ingredients that can be processed into medicine. Ginger has active ingredients that are important for health. In order to be used as medicine, the active ingredients in ginger must not be damaged. “Ginger has several health benefits, including being an anti-inflammatory, immune enhancer, and warming body. There are approximately 30,000 active TOGA in Indonesia, but few are used as medicines,” she said.
The Comdes FP UNS participants were then invited to learn how to make ginger candy. The event held on Saturday (23/7/2022) allows participants to learn the production process of hard ginger candy. The ingredients used are 100 grams of ginger, 200 ml of water, 80 grams of maltose, 170 grams of sugar, and lime.
With this training, BEM FP and UKK HMP FP UNS hope to incorporate community service and empowerment for the target community. Additionally, BEM FP and UKK HMP also hope that the Ngunut Village residents can optimize their village potential by developing TOGA commodity products after this program. Humas UNS
Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti